Advair

Description

Advair (generic name: Fluticasone / Salmeterol; brand names include: Seroflo / Seretide / Viani / Adoair / ForAiris) is a combination of two medicines (fluticasone and salmeterol) that are used to help control the symptoms of asthma and improve lung function.

maintenance treatment of asthma in patients 4 years of age and older;
maintenance treatment of airflow obstruction and reducing exacerbations (a marked worsening of COPD symptoms) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Advair treats both main causes of asthma symptoms, airway constriction and inflammation, to help prevent them from occurring in the first place.

Advair is the only COPD product that contains an anti-inflammatory and a long-acting bronchodilator working together to help improve lung function.

Recommendations

Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Use Advair exactly as directed.

It is usually used twice a day, in the morning and evening, about 12 hours apart. Use Advair at around the same times every day.

Do not use Advair for the immediate relief of an asthma attack. Always have your inhaled rescue medicine for asthma attacks with you.

It may take a week or longer before you feel the full benefit of Advair. Continue to use Advair even if you feel well. Do not stop using Advair without talking to your doctor.

Before you use Advair inhalation for the first time, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or respiratory therapist to show you how to use the inhaler.

Never exhale into the inhaler, take the inhaler apart, or wash the mouthpiece or any part of the inhaler. Keep the inhaler dry. Do not use the inhaler with a spacer.

Precautions

Before using Advair, tell your doctor if:

you are allergic to fluticasone (Flonase, Flovent), salmeterol (Serevent), any other medications, or milk protein;
you use another LABA such as formoterol (Foradil) or salmeterol (Serevent);
you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding.